Beet-harvester.



PATENTED MAR. 14;, 1905.

H. F. BARBER.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED 23.9.1904.

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PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

H. P. BARBER.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLIUATION FILED APR.9.1904.

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No. 784,532. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. H. F. BARBER.

1 BERT HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9.1904.

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PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

H.F. BARBER.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1904.

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Patented March 14, 1905.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. BARBER, OF FORT MORGAN, COLORADO, ASSG'NOR OF SEVEN-TWELFTHS TOJOHN JONES AND FRANK M. TEFFT, OF

FORT MORGAN, COLORADO.

BEET-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,532, dated March14, 1905.

Application filed April 9, 1904. Serial No. 202,418.

My invention relates to improvements inv what may be designated asbeet-harvesters.

lt has for its object to provide for the effective excavating or removalfrom the ground of the beets and the elevating thereof fortopping andfinally delivering the same for transference to a suitable place ofstorage, to accommodate the passage of beets of varying sizes, to meansfeeding them to the cutting or topping contrivance, to suitably @Heetthe ad? justing of the beet-feedcontrolling means accoi-ding to thefeeding action itmay be desired to impart to the beets as in passingthem to the topping or severing means and for delivery, and to otherwiseprovide for convenience and facility in carrying out the aforesaidpurposes.

Said invention consists of certain structural features and thecombination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter morefully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying; drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, Figures 1 and 2 are respective side elevations of thelatter. Fig. 3 is a broken plan view thereof. Fig. '1 isa verticalcross-section produced in rear of and viewing the oifbearing conveyer orcarrier taking the beets from the primary or initial carrier orelevator. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsection, of the machine. Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing moreespecially the upper portion of the primary carrier or elevator view ofthe combined plow-beam-guiding standard and forwardaxle linchpln.

1n the practicingof my invention l arrange generally all of the variousparts thereof in or upon a suitably-constructed frame 1, itself mountedupon a rear axle 2, bearing-wheels 3, and upon a forward swiveled axle4, having wheels and a draft bar or pole 6.

An elevator or carrier 7 0f suitable slattedbelt construction isarranged and supported between upward and rearward inclined lateral barsor members 7, having passing therethroughat their extreme upper ends andsome distance therebelow a shaft 8 and a rod or shaft 9, respectively,said shaft 8 bearing in an arm 10 and asupplemental frame 10. Anadditional shorter like carrier 11 is arranged laterally of the carrier0r elevator 7 at its upper end vand encompasses rolls 11, secured uponthe shafts 8 and 9, serving to aid the elevation and spreading of thebeets when at that altitude to more effectively deliver them to anddistribute them upon the carrier subsequently receiving them, aspresently described. To the lower ends of the elevator lateral bars 7'Lare suitably secured by their rear ends parallel excavators or plows 12,adapted to lift the beets out of the ground, said plows or excavatorsbeing equipped with upward and rearward inclined convergent arms 12,with their upper ends juxtaposed to the lower end of the carrier orelevator 7 to aid in guiding' the beets lifted or removed by said plowsupon said carrier or elevator. Said elevator lateral bai-shave securedlaterally thereto the rear ends of the divergent arms of a beam 13,having its forward end portion extending through the elongated verticalguide-slot 13L of the linchpin 14, effecting the swiveled or turningconnection between the forward end of the frame 1 and the axle of theforward wheels. Said linchpin or standard has apertures 14 therethroughto permit the inserting thereinto a pin for the retention of theplowbeam in an elevated position out of contact with the ground orsurface, as when the machine is not in use. To said plow-beam is linked,as at 15, a rock-bar or yoke 16, bearing in the lateral bars of theframe 1, and to said yoke is secured or fixed the inner end of ahand-lever 17 for effecting the requisite or desired adjustment of theplow-beam, as in causing the plow to penetrate the soil to a greater orless depth, the purpose of which is obvious. Said lever has, as usual, asliding detent or pawl 17, engaging a rack 17",

Afixed to the frame 1, for the retention of said lever at the desiredpoint of adjustment, said detent being actuated by the hand of theoperator sitting in the seat 18, supported upon the frame 1, andgrasping said lever and a supplemental lever 17C, pivoted to the latterand linked, as at 17 d, to said detent. The elevator or carrier7 andsupplemental carrier or belt llhave the common shaft 8 of their pulleysprovided with a driving sprocket wheel or pinion 19 for effectingthemovement thereof, as will be presently disclosed.

Disposed adjacently to the upper or deliver'- ing ends of the carriers 7and 11 is a carrier or conveyer 20 with its carrying-surface presentednext to the latter and arranged at right angles to the plane of theaforesaid carriers and encompassing upright rolls or pulleys 20", withtheir shafts suitably supported in position, one of which shafts,however, is adapted to carry with it one of said pulleys or rolls as itis rotated or driven by a pinion 21, secured to said shaft and engaginga large laterally-cogged Wheel or pinion 22. Said wheel or pinion 22,whose shaft 22 is suitably supported inposition, has fixed to itlaterally a small sprocket wheel or pinion 22h, again later referred to,for finally imparting motion to the carrier or conveyer 20, as willhereinafter be described. Said carrier or conveyer has its deliveringend extending a short distance beyond the frame 1 laterally, and to saidframe just opposite said extension of said carrier is suitablyconnected, as further noted, an upstanding deflector or plate 23 withits greater area or surface presented in a plane at right angles to thedirection of the Inovement of said carrier and so arranged that aportion of said surface or area is adapted to intercept the beetscarried by the conveyer or carrier 20, and thus provide for theprecipitating' or throwing the same downward and inward upon means, as adeeply grooved or corrugated traveling carrier or conveyer 24, laterfurther described, for the conducting of said beets to the knife orcutter for topping the same, as will be more fully apparent presently.Said deflector or plate has a lateral tubular or sleeve extension 23Lnear its bottom edge, slipped or inserted upon a bar extension or arm23" of the frame 1, and through said sleeve or tubular extension arecoincident apertures 23C, while said arm or bar extension has a numberof apertures 23d to provide for the reception or insertion therethroughof a pin 23e, as in effecting the lateral adjustment of said plate ordeflector to provide for controlling the feeding or throwing of thebeets upon the carrier 24.

A spring-metal plate 25, with one right-angled end portion suitably heldin position in preferably a slitted standard 25a, secured to the frame1, say, directly opposite the plate or deflector 23. has its mainportion or sur- -face arranged in a plane parallel to the cari rier orconveyer 20 to aid the latter in guiding or feeding the beets asaforesaid. The opposite right-angled end portion of said plate 25 isarranged close to the bracket-arm 10, before noted, and by its resilientor springy character springs back and forth as said plate yields orliexes under the pressure or resistance of the contacting beets, thusproviding for accommodating the passage therebetween and the carrier 20of beets of different sizes, as will be readily appreciated.

The carrier or conveyer 24, previously alluded to, is arranged justbelow the springplate guide 25 and the carrier or conveyer 2() andadjacently to the deflector 23 to receive and carry in its deep channelsor grooves the beets thrown, as above noted,thereinto byv said deflectorand suitably encompasses opposite rolls 24, the shaft of one of whichhas;

secured thereon a sprocket-pinion 26 for actuating Ysaid shaft andcarrier, said pinion itself being driven as presently seen, the other ofsaid shafts carrying a large gear-wheel 27, the function of which willappear later.

A two-blade knife or cutter '28, carried by a shaft 28a, suitablyjournaled in position, and Whose cutting edges face or are presented inopposite directions, is arranged laterally and close to one edge of thecarrier 24, so that v with the tops of the beets carried by andextending laterally beyond the last named said tops will be brought intoposition to be severed from the beets by the action of said knife inrapid rotation, said rotation being effected by the action of a pinion29, securedv to the shaft of said knife and geared to the Wheel 27,secured to one of the shafts of the belt or carrier 20, driven aspresently disclosed.

An elevator or co-nveyer 30 is also arranged at the delivery or rear endof the machine and at right angles to the plane of the carrier 24 and soas to receive the topped beets therefrom and has its frame suitablysupported in an upward and outward inclined position, its upper endextending a suitable distance laterally beyond the machine-frame 1 topermit the delivery of the beets elevated therebyinto a moving vehicleaccompanying the machine or harvester, as will be readily understood,for finally readily transferring said beets to a place of storage orotherwise conveniently disposing of the same. Said elevator has theshaft of its lower roll provided with a pinion 31, geared to a laterallycogged or toothed wheel 32, arranged upon the aXle of the reartransporting-wheels of the harvester and suitably driven for actuatingsaid elevator. Upon one of said rear wheels is suitably carried a largecogged or gear wheel 33, having as its center,

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and loosely inserted upon, the rear axle, and with said wheel is g'eareda pinion 34, fixed upon a shaft 34, suitably supported in position, saidpinion carrying laterally a sprocketpinion 35. A chain belt 36 engagessaid sprocket-pinion and the pinion 22" of the actuating-gear of thecarrier 20, the pinion 19 for driving the shaft upon which are securedthe rolls imparting motion to the elevators 7 and 1l and the pinion 26for actuating the shaft bearing the driving-roll for the carrier 24,whereby a common medial means is provided for actuating' all of theaforesaid parts.

Latitude is allowed as to details herein, as they may be changed ascircumstances suggest without departing from the spirit of my inventionand the latter still be protected.

I claimg 1. In a machine of the character described, an elevator havingits lateral bars equipped at their lower ends with excavating means, atransverse carrier arranged to receive the contents of said elevator andconduct the same laterally thereof, means adapted to deect andprecipitate said contents, a carrier to receive said precipitatedcontents, and a cutter arranged laterally of said latter carrier andadapted to engage said contents for the removal of the superfluousportion thereof.

Q'. In a harvester of the character described, an elevator equipped withexcavating means, a transverse carrier arranged to receive the contentsof said elevator and deliver it laterally thereof, and a spring-guidearranged parallel with said carrier and adapted to aid the actionthereof.

3. 1n a harvester of the character described, an elevator equipped withexcavating means, a transverse carrier receiving the contents of saidelevator and delivering the same laterally thereof, a spring-guideopposed to and arranged to aid the action of, said carrier, a secondcarrier arranged in a plane below the aforesaid carrier, and a lateraldeector arranged to deliver said contents upon said second carrier.

4. In a harvesterof the character descri bed, an elevator equipped withexcavating means, a transverse carrier with its carrying-surfacepresented toward the upper delivery end of said elevator, a spring-guideopposed to said carrier, a laterally-arranged deflector adjustablydisposed in position, a second carrier arranged in a plane below theaforesaid carrier and adapted to receive the objects precipitated bysaid dellector and alateral cutter arranged to act upon the objectsborne by said second carrier.

5. In a harvester of the character described, a transverse carrier, anelevator having excavating means delivering upon the aforesaid carrier,and a spring-guide with one rightangled end portion fixed in positionand having its [nain portion arranged parallel to the carrying-surfaceof said transverse carrier, and its other right-angled end portionhaving frictional contact with a fixed part.

6. In a harvester of the character described,

an elevator equipped with excavating means, a transverse carrier withits carrying-surface presented to the upper delivering end of saidelevator, a defiector arranged laterally of said parts, a guide opposedto said transverse carrier, a second carrier arranged in a plane belowthe aforesaid carrier, shaft and gearpinion mechanism, and adriving-belt common to the latter mechanism and adapted to transmit theaction thereof to said elevator and carriers.

7. In a harvester of the character described, an elevator equipped withexcavating' means, a transverse carrier, with its carrying-surfacepresented toward the upper end of said elevator, means for aiding theaction of said transverse carrier, a second carrier below the aforesaidcarrier, a defiector for precipitating the objects carried by thefirst-referred-to carrier upon said latter carrier, means for toppingsaid objects thus precipitated and received upon said latter carrier anda third carrier, adapted to receive said objects from said sec.- ondcarrier.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY F. BARBER.

Witnesses:

L. C. S'rnrHnNsoN, SAMUEL GOLDEN.

